CARING FORTHE EYES OF TEXAS

Home » What's New » Holiday Season Shopping: Are Nerf Guns Safe for the Eyes?

Holiday Season Shopping: Are Nerf Guns Safe for the Eyes?

Nerf guns or blasters come in a remarkable number of shapes and sizes and have become incredibly popular for use in the home and even in large scale “Nerf Wars”. However publicity surrounding the toy has not been all positive. Many parents out there are questioning the safety of the toy foam guns, particularly to the eyes, before making the purchase.

The question of safety ultimately comes down to the user. Nerf darts are relatively soft, foamy and not inherently dangerous, but if shot in the wrong way, they could cause pain or even serious injury. This is particularly true of the eyes because they are a vulnerable organ that can be damaged easily upon impact. Injuries from even a soft projectile could include corneal abrasions (surface scratches), bleeding, cataracts and even retinal detachment which can lead to permanent vision loss.

Nevertheless, Nerf guns are fun and can even be used to help motor development and other skills, so with the right guidelines, children can learn to use them safely and benefit from the enjoyment they provide.

Want surefire eye safety? Wear safety glasses!

The best defense for your eyes is safety glasses. This is the one way you can be sure that you or your child’s eyes are truly safe during Nerf shooting. We strongly recommend safety glasses be worn during any play that involves projectile objects, particularly for small children or during serious games such as Nerf Wars.

General rules of Nerf Gun play:

Never shoot at the face.

Never look into the barrel of the nerf gun, even if you think it isn’t loaded.

Avoid walking around with your finger on the trigger until you are ready to point and aim at the proper target.

Only shoot others that are “playing” and are aware that you are aiming at them.

Never leave loaded gun in reach of a child or individual that is not able to use the toy properly and safely.

To be safe, all toy guns that shoot projectiles should be treated as a dangerous toy in order to ensure proper usage and precautions. Yes, Nerf guns can cause serious eye damage and even vision loss, but these type of injuries can be caused by many “harmless” objects as well. Before you purchase a toy like this for your child, ask yourself whether the child is old enough and mature enough to understand the safety issues involved and to be able to use it responsibly.

Make an Appointment with:

Testimonials

★ ★ ★ ★ ★
On time and very friendly staff. The best eye exams I have ever received. Dr Gregg Kamnetz is very through and caring~ Dawn T.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Dr. Kamnetz and his staff are the best! I've been going there for many years (too many to count!) and have always received the best customer service and care. I highly recommend this office.~ Lisa C.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★
The entire staff is absolutely amazing, I have a consistently great experience every time. Everyone goes out of their way to make sure I am happy. They have a large selection of glasses and I always leave happy with the price I paid. This last time my glasses were ready on the SAME DAY!~ Stephenie R.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Every single time I have coming in I have been probably seen. The staff is always courteous and helpful and no matter which Dr. *ICE I always get great care.~ Sadhana P.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★
I went in to get my glasses changed, but I didn't need them changed . I had developed a case of dry-eyes, so now I need i eye drops to lubricate my eyes. It was great to see Dr.Kamnetz~ Don W.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Everyone I encountered there was extremely nice and professional and helped me understand all the tests and results in detail.~ Ben C.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★
I really appreciated the detailed review of the Digital Eye Exam by Dr. Kamnetz. It was very thorough and informative.~ Sergio M.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Dr Kamnitz went out of his way to answer all of my concerns. So nice to see someone who cares and is willing to spend extra time to get everything right versus the assemble line approach. Thanks, Darci~ Darci E.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Very communicative! They gave me very comprehensive information throughout my appointment. What a great experience!~ Laura B.